Oldies but goldies that are fairly cheap. Are you decorating or collecting?

SAGAE

REGAL SPLENDOR WITH PAULS GLORY IN FRONT AND SAGAE again in the rear, BTW that Jap maple did not survive last spring.

PAULS GLORY AND SUN POWER ON THE LEFT

{{gwi:284859}}

BLUE ANGEL IN THE BACK

I don't know how many,but you're right Linda! In the past,I would buy a hosta just because it was one I didn't already have. Now,I am getting more selective. The only thing is the rarer the hosta,the more you pay for it. I know I'll never have every hosta there is,but now I am limited buy my budget and places to plant them. Phil

Linda, I think I'm following your lead of Oldies that meet the 10 ft rule.

Montana Aureo marginata

JUNE

GREAT EXPECTATIONS, it ain't easy being a 10 footer that is hard to grow BIG BUTT when you get there it is grand.

Just proving, there is nothing new under the sun...or perhaps NOT under the sun but in the shade...

That GE is fabulous!

That GE is fabulous!
bunnycat

I know it is hard and I've had my own problems but it is worth the trouble, I think you just need to keep buying until you have a good one. GE is an example of why I brought up the tc thread again. This is the best one I have out of hundreds, really hundreds that I've had.

There are many old wonderful hosta, enough that no one would have to have the newest and best to have a wonderful display. Of course, I bought about 100 new ones last year. LOL

Here is a 7-8ft wide H.'Wide Brim' growing in the front bog with H.'Striptease" on the right.

Then H.'On Stage' just opening up today.

Yeahbut.....
Take for example that Wide brim in the last picture. How much of it's appeal is due to the cultivar and how much to the fact that it's a big beautiful mature plant and would anyone, including you really know if it were Wide Brim or Leola Fraim?
I mean how many does one need and what's the lower numbers limit of having a variety of all the sorts of variations?
Linda C

lindac, very true I'm only following your lead that there a lot of older hosta that are worth having and the cheapest plant that looks like Wide Brim or Leola Fraim is all you need maybe vs chasing a new one very much like those two but new on the market.

How many Fragrant Bouquet look alikes like Holy Mole, etc does one need or want or can afford (now you're talking about me)? I usually can spot F Bouquet from 10ft. BTW, I bought Holy Mole last year?

Leola Fraim or Wide Brim comes up a little later than the other, BIG BUTT who cares?

I agree completely about look alikes. I am messing around with how color of a group of hostas play off another. By the way, a oldie but goodie...

Bressingham Blue

I think there are some amazing hybridizers working today and creating some stunning hostas that look new and different.
That said, I am a collector, lucky enough to have unlimited space, and will continue to collect on the name and the look of the hosta. I try to purchase more of the "heavier leaved" type that resist slugs. I think that is important too.

I just bought a new house, and I have a lot of room. I still have a hard time buying a hosta that is similiar to another one. I want the plants to stand out, and be unique. My original wish list has been trimmed by about 25% when I started to eliminate similiar plants.